How to Fill Out a W4

February 18, 2019

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3 minute read

Tax time is here and it’s time to send in your forms. Learning how to fill out a w4 form is much easier than you think. It’s a quick and hassle-free process that gets even easier when you have specific and clear instructions to follow. With that in mind, let’s get started.

Where Can You Get a W4 Form?

You can usually get your W4 form straight from your employer. If they do not choose to supply you with one, you can go straight to the official IRS website and download it straight from there. The download is free of charge.

Fill in Your Biographical Data

The first step in learning how to fill out a W4 form is easy enough. Simply fill in your biographical data. In the provided blank, simply fill in your name, address, Social Security number, and marital status.

There is a benefit here if you are indeed married. If so, you can indicate your preference for the higher single withholding rate. This special rate can immediately applied to your pay.

Complete Your Personal Allowance Worksheet

When you get your W4 form, the first thing you will notice is lines A through H. These are the lines on which you will calculate the total number of allowances that you wish to claim.

The first couple of lines will indicate whether or not you claim status as a dependent, married person, and also whether you are claiming dependents or simply listing yourself as the head of your household. Beyond this, lines E and F relate to child-care tax credits and whether you intend to claim any.

Moving to Page 2

Page 2 is where you itemize any deductions you wish to make. If you need to do so, you will do it here at the Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet.

Your task will be to combine your income from multiple jobs (assuming you have more than one job or if you are married to someone who also works). If your combined earnings exceed $40,000, you will also need to fill out the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet on page 2. This will save you the trouble of having too little tax withheld.

Fill in Lines 5 and 6

Line 5 will be the place that you fill in the number from line 10 of your Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet. If you didn’t need to complete that particular Worksheet, the number you fill in here will be the result you came to on line H of the Personal Allowance Worksheet.

You can use line 6 of your form to list any additional amounts of tax that you wish to be withheld from each paycheck. The figure that you enter on line 6 will be the final result that you obtained on line 9 of the Two-Earners/Multiple Jobs Worksheet if this area was filled out.

Complete the Last Part of the Form

Line 7 will allow you to claim exemption from withholding if you can meet two very important qualifications. You will also find spaces for your signature and contact info.

Now you’re finished and ready to mail it in. Page 1 is all that you will need to send in. The rest you can keep for your personal records. Once completed, you submit your W4 form to your employer.

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